To-infinitive – English Grammar Exercises for A2
You are apologizing to your teacher or boss for a mistake or a delay, and you are making a promise to do better. Read the sentences carefully and choose the best option (A, B, or C) to complete your commitment.
1 “I am very sorry my homework is late. I promise ______ it to you tomorrow morning.”
(A) giving
(B) to give
(C) give
2 “My manager was unhappy with the delay, but I agreed ______ on the weekend to finish the project.”
(A) work
(B) working
(C) to work
3 “I know I made a careless mistake, but I will try ______ more careful next time.”
(A) to be
(B) be
(C) being
4 “Please don’t lower my grade. I plan ______ the essay tonight and submit it again.”
(A) rewriting
(B) to rewrite
(C) rewrite
5 “I am sorry for being late. I have decided ______ a new alarm clock so it never happens again.”
(A) buying
(B) buy
(C) to buy
6 “I apologize for the delay. I promise ______ late with my weekly reports again.”
(A) not to be
(B) not being
(C) don’t be
7 “I understand the deadline is very strict. I need ______ faster to finish on time.”
(A) working
(B) to work
(C) work
8 “This project is very important to me, and I hope ______ it perfectly this time.”
(A) complete
(B) completing
(C) to complete
9 “Mr. Smith, I expect ______ all the documents ready for your meeting by 3:00 PM.”
(A) have
(B) to have
(C) having
10 “Thank you for giving me more time. I won’t forget ______ the file to you before I leave the office.”
(A) to send
(B) sending
(C) send
11 “I am sorry I forgot the papers today. I will remember ______ them to the meeting tomorrow.”
(A) bring
(B) bringing
(C) to bring
12 “My boss asked me to fix the presentation, and I offered ______ it during my lunch break.”
(A) doing
(B) to do
(C) do
13 “I am sorry I missed the morning meeting. I promise ______ earlier tomorrow.”
(A) coming
(B) come
(C) to come
14 “We talked about the problem, and we agreed ______ a new software system to prevent future errors.”
(A) to use
(B) use
(C) using
15 “It is a difficult task, but I will try my best ______ it before Friday.”
(A) finish
(B) to finish
(C) finishing
16 “I apologize for the spelling mistakes in the email. I plan ______ everything carefully next time.”
(A) check
(B) checking
(C) to check
17 “Teacher, I am sorry I was distracted. I promise ______ my phone in class anymore.”
(A) not to use
(B) not using
(C) don’t use
18 “After our discussion, I decided ______ a different topic for my final presentation.”
(A) choosing
(B) choose
(C) to choose
19 “I know the client is waiting for an answer. I need ______ them right now.”
(A) call
(B) calling
(C) to call
20 “You can trust me. I promise ______ a better job on the next assignment.”
(A) doing
(B) to do
(C) do
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) to give
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The verb promise points to a future action. It is always followed by a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “giving” is a gerund, which is incorrect after promise. (C) “give” is a bare infinitive, missing “to”.
2 (C) to work
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The verb agree (making a mutual commitment for the future) is followed by a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “work” lacks “to”. (B) “working” is a gerund.
3 (A) to be
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Try + to-infinitive” means to make an effort or attempt to do something difficult.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “be” lacks “to”. (C) “being” (Try + V-ing) means doing something as an experiment, which does not fit the context of making a serious effort to fix a mistake.
4 (B) to rewrite
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The verb plan shows a future intention and requires a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “rewriting” is a common learner mistake. (C) “rewrite” lacks “to”.
5 (C) to buy
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The verb decide requires a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “buying” and (B) “buy” are grammatically incorrect after decide.
6 (A) not to be
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: To make a negative promise, we put “not” directly before the to-infinitive (“not to + V”).
- Why others are wrong: (B) “not being” uses the wrong verb form. (C) “don’t be” is imperative and cannot be used after promise.
7 (B) to work
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Need expresses a necessity for a future action, requiring a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “working” and (C) “work” violate the grammar rule.
8 (C) to complete
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The verb hope expresses a future desire and takes a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “complete” lacks “to”. (B) “completing” is incorrect.
9 (B) to have
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The verb expect (anticipating a future result) is followed by a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “have” lacks “to”. (C) “having” is incorrect.
10 (A) to send
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Forget + to-infinitive” is used for tasks that you must do in the future. “I won’t forget to send it” means “I will remember to do my task.”
- Why others are wrong: (B) “sending” refers to forgetting a memory of the past. (C) “send” lacks “to”.
11 (C) to bring
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Remember + to-infinitive” means remembering a task you need to perform in the future.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “bring” lacks “to”. (B) “bringing” refers to a past memory.
12 (B) to do
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: The verb offer (volunteering to do a future action) takes a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “doing” and (C) “do” are grammatically incorrect here.
13 (C) to come
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Promise requires a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “coming” and (B) “come” are incorrect verb forms.
14 (A) to use
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Agree requires a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “use” lacks “to”. (C) “using” is a gerund error.
15 (B) to finish
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: “Try my best” (making a strong effort) is followed by a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “finish” lacks “to”. (C) “finishing” is incorrect.
16 (C) to check
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Plan requires a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “check” lacks “to”. (B) “checking” is a gerund error.
17 (A) not to use
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Negative infinitive structure: “promise + not + to + V”.
- Why others are wrong: (B) “not using” is the wrong verb form. (C) “don’t use” is grammatically invalid in the middle of this sentence.
18 (C) to choose
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Decide requires a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “choosing” and (B) “choose” are incorrect.
19 (B) to call
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Need requires a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “call” lacks “to”. (C) “calling” is incorrect.
20 (B) to do
Explanation: – Why it’s correct: Promise requires a to-infinitive.
- Why others are wrong: (A) “doing” is a gerund. (C) “do” lacks “to”.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Verbs of Commitment & Future Intention: We always use “to + Verb” (to-infinitive) after verbs that indicate a decision, plan, or promise about the future.
- Key Verbs: promise, agree, plan, decide, hope, expect, offer, try.
- Example: “I promise to finish the report.” (NOT “I promise finishing”).
- The Negative Promise:
- When you promise not to do something bad again, place the word “not” immediately before the “to”.
- Structure: promise + not + to + Verb
- Example: “I promise not to be late.” (NOT “I promise to not be late” or “I promise don’t be late”).
- Remember / Forget (Future Tasks):
- Use Remember / Forget + to-infinitive when talking about your responsibilities or tasks you must complete.
- Example: “I will remember to bring my laptop.” = It is my job to bring it, and I will do it.